Sharing a teacher’s accidentally posted intimate image may constitute a crime, says professor

A female teacher in Kemiönsaari, Finland, accidentally posted a topless photo of herself on Snapchat, which was then shared further by others, Yle reports. Legal experts say the unauthorised distribution of such images may now be prosecuted under Finland’s updated sexual offence laws.

The teacher, who works in the municipality of Kemiönsaari, stated that someone took a screenshot of the image and circulated it, prompting her to consider legal action against the adults involved.

Kimmo Nuotio, professor of criminal law at the University of Helsinki, told Yle that the case could meet the criteria for the offence of unlawful distribution of a sexual image, introduced in 2023 as part of reforms to protect sexual self-determination.

While the teacher herself shared the image, Nuotio noted that the accidental posting to the wrong audience complicates the legal interpretation. “Even though she posted the intimate image on Snapchat, it’s reasonable to assume it was a mistake and that she intended to prohibit further sharing,” he said.

The offence carries penalties ranging from fines to up to two years in prison. Nuotio added that, in theory, charges of defamation or violation of privacy could also apply, though the sexual offence provision is likely the intended legal framework.

Under the law, merely showing the image on a screen to others—without actively forwarding it—could also be considered an offence, as the statute explicitly covers both “displaying” and “distributing” such material.